Glossary
Conserving mental resources
What is Conserving Mental Resources?
Conserving mental resources is a behavior change strategy that reduces the cognitive load associated with performing a desired behavior, so that the desired action places fewer demands on memory or thought.
How it works
BCT Taxonomy v1 includes reducing mental demands as technique 11.3. A reminder or an accessible record could reduce the need to remember information.
Applied example
Preparing clothes in advance
Laying out gym clothes the night before removes a task from the morning routine. That is an observable change in what needs doing. It might make getting ready easier.
Using a checklist
For example, imagine a person who must gather three documents, attach them to an application, and confirm submission. A short checklist beside the application lets them check the required documents and mark completed steps. They no longer have to keep the whole sequence and their place in it in memory. The list must be accurate and available when needed; a list stored elsewhere may not solve the problem.
These examples change different demands. Preparing clothes moves a physical task to an earlier time. A checklist provides an external record of what to do. Either can make a routine easier without implying that the person has preserved a measurable store of willpower.
Why it matters
The useful question is which demands the person encounters and whether a change reduces them.
The original taxonomy and its definitions specify the technique; separate outcome research is needed to assess effectiveness.